Metropolitan Cathedral La Seo - Zaragoza

Information:   * Declared World Heritage by the  UNESCO in 2001
                       * 1999 National Restoration Award
                       * 1999 Europa Nostra Diploma

The rebuilding of the cathedral in Gothic Style using plaster and brick took  between 1316 and 1319. It is indeed, the most significant and valuable historical building in Aargon, representing  medieval, renaissance and baroque trends.

Outside:

A:  TOWER  designed by the Italian maestro Juan Bautista Contini (1686 - 1704)

B:  MAIN FACADE built in Italian baroque style with a clear neoclassical tendency. Archbishop Anoa y Busto entrusted the work to Julian Yarza, a disciple of Ventura Rodiguez

C:  GOTHIC - MUDEJAR WALL.  Thois is north wall of Saint Michael's Chapel, which is algo the parish church of la Seo. It dates from the times of Archbishop Lope Fernandez de Luna (1352 -1381)
The Gothic style windows are decorated with ceramic, polychromatic borders bearing the Luna coat of arms at each of the vertices.Along the top part of the wall  there are large sections with decorative geometric designs, an outstanding example of Aragonese Mudejar art.

D:  APSES These are the two apses at the head of naves. Their ashlar stone plinths date from the end ot the twelfth century. Large windows open out over the plinths.  The windows along the nave have a chequered  design. There is another section of lavish mudejar brickwork above the romnanesque apses.

INSIDE:

The Nave and aisles of La Seo cathedral form an impressive hall.it is decorated  in  a sober manner, except fort the baroque facades of some of the chapels. Inside the cathedral there is an incredibly harmonious combination of all the artistic trends, influenced by the ever-present Aragonese Mudejar style. There are sixteen chapels leading off from the hall. Zaragoza's bright daylight provides natural illumination, gently filtered through circular windows.

  1.  Chapel of San Pedro Arbues
  2.  Saint Augustine's Chapel
  3. Chapel of Santo Dominguito  de Val
  4. Chapel of the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
  5. Saint Helen's Chapel
  6. Chapel of Saint Valero
  7  Chapel of Ntra. Sra de las Nieves
  8. The Pabostria portico
  9.  The Holy Christ Chapel and Retrochoir
10.  Saint Bernard's Chapel. One of the most important examples of Aragonese renaissance.
11.  St. Benedict's Chapel
12.  Saint Mark's Chapel
13.  The Nativity Chapel
14.  Chapel of Saint Justa and saint Rufina
15.  Saint Vincent's Chapel
16.  Saint James Chapel
17.  Saint Michael's Chapel. The parish church of La Seo.
18.  Chapel of the "White Virgin"
19.  Choir
20. Organ
21. Dome
22. High Altarpiece
23. Chapel of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
24. Sacristy and Chapter House Museum.
25. Entrance to Tapestry Museum. Not to be missed.


Metropolitan Cathedral la Seo
Plaza de La Seo,
s/n - 50001 Zaragoza

Tel:   Sacristy:   976 29 12 38
         Chapter:   976 29 12 31

Fax;  976 20 07 52

Email:   laseo@cacbidezaragoza.org
Web:     www.cabildezaragoza.org